Things to do near Caernarfon???

astraea

HI all

I have booked a cheap Travelodge for a night in Liverpool on the 31st July, for me, my hubby and children aged 6 months, 9, 15, 16 and 18.

We have then managed to get 4 night in a cabin in Glan wna country holiday park through family very cheaply. We have never been to Wales before and so have no idea what there is to do or where to go? Is is easy to go on the ferry to Ireland for the day? My youngest does not have a passport yet though so would that rule this out?

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

p00hsticks

We went over to Ireland for the day quite easily from Holyhead a few years back without passports, and it look as if - provided you are British or Irish citizens - that is still possible, although they do recommend you take some form of identity.

http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/faqs/passports-and-visas/im-a-british-irish-citizen-do-i-need-a-passport-to-travel/

http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/day-trips/

astraea

I have been looking at the ferries but it does look expensive so in not sure about that? I have also looked at the snowdonia mountain train, has anyone been on this? Would the kids enjoy it?

hamsterfan1

I've never been on the Snowdonia train as my parents made me walk up but I'm sure the older children would love it.

FatAndy

Here's a few suggestions around the Caernarfon area (including links) -

Caernarfon Castle
Redline Indoor Karting
Greenwood Forest Park
Hwylfan Fun Centre
Caernarfon Airport (yes, really!)
Welsh Highland Railway & Ffestiniog Railway
Electric Mountain
Glasfryn Parc
Portmeirion
Penrhyn Castle
Anglesey Sea Zoo
Pili Palas
Dwyfor Ranch Rabbit Farm & Animal Park

The Snowdon Railway is expensive but if the weather is good at the summit it's worth every penny.

There are lots of great beaches in the area including Porthdinllaen where you'll find the Ty Coch Inn which has just been voted one of the top three beach bars in the world.

Further afield you could venture out to places like Llandudno, Conwy, Llanberis, Betws-y-Coed, Pwllheli, etc, etc, etc.....

(No need to go Dublin, if you really want to head off to sea take a day trip over to Bardsey Island!).

p00hsticks

astraea wrote: »

I have also looked at the snowdonia mountain train, has anyone been on this? Would the kids enjoy it?

As far as I remember it it's VERY expensive I think. You used to be able to book to go on the first one of the day (at 9am ?) for half price - but the risk is that if the weather's bad that early in the morning you won't see much of anything on the way up. You also only have a very limited time at the top (about half an hour) if you are going back down on the train as you have to catch the next train back down.

Personally, if you have a car then if travelling by any sort of train is a novelty then we found it was much better value to drive to Pwllhelli and simply get a Cambrian Coast Rover ticket on the standard rail service to go down the line to Barmouth or Machynlleth - it's a lovely scenic line.

http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/explorewales/cambriancoaster/

FatAndy

p00hsticks wrote: »

As far as I remember it it's VERY expensive I think. You used to be able to book to go on the first one of the day (at 9am ?) for half price - but the risk is that if the weather's bad that early in the morning you won't see much of anything on the way up./

There is a discount for the 9am train but it's not half price. Two adults plus four kids over the age of two would cost £90 at 9am or £126 for later diesel services. There's also a booking fee if you book in advance.

astraea

How difficult would it be to walk up? how long does it take and could we do it with the pram?

Thanks for the other suggestions i am looking through them as we speak

ThumbRemote

astraea wrote: »

How difficult would it be to walk up? how long does it take and could we do it with the pram?

Thanks for the other suggestions i am looking through them as we speak

Not massively, a couple of hours (depends on your fitness) and no.

FatAndy

astraea wrote: »

How difficult would it be to walk up? how long does it take and could we do it with the pram?

Thanks for the other suggestions i am looking through them as we speak

There are a number of different paths so how difficult and how long would depend on which path you took. But none of them are anywhere close to being pram friendly. In many ways it's harder walking back down so even if you could push the pram to the top I'd be very concerned about keeping control of it on the way back down!

http://www.magazine.ordnancesurveyleisure.co.uk/magazine/tscontent/editorials/walking/2011/snowdon.html

astraea

Would Greenwood Forest Park have anything that would keep he 3 teenagers interested? They are going to be the toughest ones to entertain! We cant go to Electric mountain because under 4's cannot go in. The Snowdonia Mountain railway is out of our budget really.

Is there anything else we could do at Snowdonia? or a good way to see Snowdon?

Thanks for all the help